Weather predictions for Friday the 16th were rather good for walking: overcast, with a slight breeze and temperatures that would rise to 13° celsius throughout the day. I took the 09:17 bus (23A - the bus to Tongeren) at Sint-Truiden railway station and descended in Borgloon at 09:45. Not knowing if anybody would join me, I waited till 10:00 as I had announced.
Nobody showed up, so when the towerbell sounded 10 o' clock I set out all by myself for 12.5km through the Borgloon area. Borgloon coming from the word "Borg" meaning fortress or castle and the Germanic word "lauhun", which means wooded hill. So the town is basicly called "Castle on the wooded hill".
The first part of the walk, indicated by the yellow markers on the signposts, takes you over the remnants of Borgloon's city walls and past the chateau on the hillside. From the very beginning Borgloon made me happy. I felt why I loved this town so much right away and if ever the possibility is there, this is the place where I want to settle. A small medieval town with lots of history and friendly inhabitants. After you have gone down the hill on which the towncentre is situated, you have to cross the N79 motorway (Sint-Truiden - Tongeren). Mind the traffic as this is a rather busy road at times. Once across this road a dirt road takes up a light hill towards the orchards that are surrounding the hamlet of Grootloon. On this first part of the path you already have some splendid views of the hilly Haspengouw countryside surrounding Borgloon. Through the meadows and orchards the path continues towards Grootloon. You actually pass through some meadows that have cattle or sheep on them. A small path with a fence on each side and enclosed by turnstiles takes you safely past these animals. Once past the last turnstile you reach the church of Grootloon. From here the path makes loop around the village, following the GR for some time.
The way connects to the old Roman military road, called "de Romeinse Kassei" (the road from Boulogne sur mer in France to Köln in Germany) The Romans paving stones are no longer visible and the road has been reinforced to support the tractors that use them nowadays, but still... it's not hard to imagine a regiment of Roman legionaires marching through towards Tongeren. (called atuatuca Tungrorum back then. Tongeren is Belgium's oldest city, founded around 16 B.C.)
After following the military road for a short while the path turns South towards Magnee bos and Manshovenbos. Two small wooded patches, remnants of the woods that used to be in these lands before Roman occupation. Magnee bos is privately owned and access is forbidden. Manshovenbos is a nature reserve and so there as well you are not allowed to enter the wood. From the dirt road along Magnee bos you take the cobblestone road past Manshovenbos and a large farm estate called Manshovenhof. The cobblestone road crosses a road, watch out for the traffic and then takes you to the hamlet of Sassenbroek. On your way in to this place you pass a nice and cosy little holiday house called "het saske" (www.saske.be) which can be rented for up to 8 persons to enjoy the beautiful Haspengouw countryside.
From Sassenbroek an unpaved hollow road takes you up the Haringsberg. A slight climb and only a trial for rise up ahead. On top of the Haringsberg you make a right turn and rejoin the Roman military road. A short but steep climb up, only to take you down again on the hollow road on the other flank. From this high point you can already see Borgloon again. The descent along the hollow road takes you back to the N79 motorway, which you again have to cross. (once again watch out for the traffic).
Once safely across the road, the small and picturesque streets take you all the way back up the hill gradually climbing back towards the town square.
I added a small walk around the town to get to 15km. My pedometer showed 16570 steps for 15km in 2 hours and 36 minutes. You can immediately jump in your car or take the bus back to Sint-Truiden or Tongeren. Another possibility is to sit down in one of the many nice little cafe's and enjoy a meal or a well deserved pint of beer. For the fans, brasserie "De Burcht" serves all 7 Trappist beers.
Check the pictures I took on this walk HERE
Nobody showed up, so when the towerbell sounded 10 o' clock I set out all by myself for 12.5km through the Borgloon area. Borgloon coming from the word "Borg" meaning fortress or castle and the Germanic word "lauhun", which means wooded hill. So the town is basicly called "Castle on the wooded hill".
The first part of the walk, indicated by the yellow markers on the signposts, takes you over the remnants of Borgloon's city walls and past the chateau on the hillside. From the very beginning Borgloon made me happy. I felt why I loved this town so much right away and if ever the possibility is there, this is the place where I want to settle. A small medieval town with lots of history and friendly inhabitants. After you have gone down the hill on which the towncentre is situated, you have to cross the N79 motorway (Sint-Truiden - Tongeren). Mind the traffic as this is a rather busy road at times. Once across this road a dirt road takes up a light hill towards the orchards that are surrounding the hamlet of Grootloon. On this first part of the path you already have some splendid views of the hilly Haspengouw countryside surrounding Borgloon. Through the meadows and orchards the path continues towards Grootloon. You actually pass through some meadows that have cattle or sheep on them. A small path with a fence on each side and enclosed by turnstiles takes you safely past these animals. Once past the last turnstile you reach the church of Grootloon. From here the path makes loop around the village, following the GR for some time.
The way connects to the old Roman military road, called "de Romeinse Kassei" (the road from Boulogne sur mer in France to Köln in Germany) The Romans paving stones are no longer visible and the road has been reinforced to support the tractors that use them nowadays, but still... it's not hard to imagine a regiment of Roman legionaires marching through towards Tongeren. (called atuatuca Tungrorum back then. Tongeren is Belgium's oldest city, founded around 16 B.C.)
After following the military road for a short while the path turns South towards Magnee bos and Manshovenbos. Two small wooded patches, remnants of the woods that used to be in these lands before Roman occupation. Magnee bos is privately owned and access is forbidden. Manshovenbos is a nature reserve and so there as well you are not allowed to enter the wood. From the dirt road along Magnee bos you take the cobblestone road past Manshovenbos and a large farm estate called Manshovenhof. The cobblestone road crosses a road, watch out for the traffic and then takes you to the hamlet of Sassenbroek. On your way in to this place you pass a nice and cosy little holiday house called "het saske" (www.saske.be) which can be rented for up to 8 persons to enjoy the beautiful Haspengouw countryside.
From Sassenbroek an unpaved hollow road takes you up the Haringsberg. A slight climb and only a trial for rise up ahead. On top of the Haringsberg you make a right turn and rejoin the Roman military road. A short but steep climb up, only to take you down again on the hollow road on the other flank. From this high point you can already see Borgloon again. The descent along the hollow road takes you back to the N79 motorway, which you again have to cross. (once again watch out for the traffic).
Once safely across the road, the small and picturesque streets take you all the way back up the hill gradually climbing back towards the town square.
I added a small walk around the town to get to 15km. My pedometer showed 16570 steps for 15km in 2 hours and 36 minutes. You can immediately jump in your car or take the bus back to Sint-Truiden or Tongeren. Another possibility is to sit down in one of the many nice little cafe's and enjoy a meal or a well deserved pint of beer. For the fans, brasserie "De Burcht" serves all 7 Trappist beers.
Check the pictures I took on this walk HERE
